About ten miles south of Zhaoyang County Town, there is a mountain that rises about a hundred and ten feet in elevation and stretches forty to fifty miles deep, named Nanling.
Although the mountain is home to spiritual medicines and rare treasures, it also harbors fierce birds and beasts, and there are even rumors of demons roaming the area. Warriors of lesser strength could lose their lives if they enter, and ordinary folk wouldn't dare come within half a step of the place.
"Since my father, Hou Tong, persuaded the County Lord Ren Feng twenty years ago to join forces with the Green Wolf Gang, the Flying Eagle Sect, and Happy Forest, the alliance deployed three hundred warriors to clear out twenty miles north of Nanling Mountain. Since then, Nanling Mountain has been much safer!
Ordinary people can now go in to gather medicinal herbs to make a living, but if they want to venture deeper, it depends on their own abilities."
At the northwest side of the mountain path, a figure in white Confucian attire and another in a red dress, were leading two horse-drawn carriages laden with goods, slowly making their way into the mountain. The man in white, quite proud, was introducing Nanling Mountain to the woman in red beside him; it was Hou Yuduan of the Hou Family, the Fifth Brother.
Tian Honglu followed behind Hou Yuduan without any interest in listening to him. From time to time, she glanced at Hou Yuduan with feelings of great complexity.
She and her senior brother, Duan Zhengqi, had been captured by Hou Yuxiao for seven days now, and during those seven days, they were locked in the western wing room. At first, she was indeed very scared, but as time passed, she noticed that Hou Yuxiao hadn't mistreated them; he even sent someone to treat her senior brother's injuries, which alleviated her fears.
After all, she was still young, and being raised in the sect by her father, she was pampered. Once her fear subsided, her courage began to grow.
It was mainly because Hou Yuxiao hadn't concerned himself with her or her senior brother for so long, and she inevitably became bored over time; thus, she began to attempt escaping by climbing over the walls.
Although she was captured several times by the burly and domineering Second Elder, Hou Lao Er, after a few more attempts, Tian Honglu was surprised to find that if she went to the eastern courtyard of the wing room, he would leave her alone. By chance, she saw Hou Yuduan studying and writing there!
As it happened, Tian Honglu's brother, Tian Fazheng, had been sent to study in Yangzhou from childhood by their father, Tian Linong, so she had a special fondness for scholars since she was young.
Moreover, this was Zhaoyang in the Demon Path's territory, where it was already amazing to have a Confucian Scholar who read the Sages' Book.
Upon inquiry, she discovered that Hou Yuduan was actually the fifth and youngest brother of the infamous Five Sons of the Hou Family in Zhaoyang County.
This piqued Tian Honglu's curiosity enormously.
In Hou Yuduan's own words, he was like 'living in Cao's camp but with loyalty to Han'; although he was in the Demon Path, he always adhered to the Righteous Path of Confucianism bequeathed by the most esteemed and saintly sages, and never committed any wrongdoing. He also constantly tried to persuade his elder brothers and sisters to leave the Demon Path.
The two were close in age; Hou Yuduan had been living in the Hou Family compound for a long time, and Tian Honglu rarely left the Mountain Sword Sect. Two innocent people, thrown together, quickly became familiar with each other.
Today, after hearing that Hou Yuduan was heading to Nanling Mountain to improve the lives of the mine slaves, Tian Honglu also pleaded with him to let her join. Hou Yuduan, having a soft heart, readily agreed to her in just a few words.
Tian Honglu wasn't foolish; she knew that the Hou Clan wouldn't allow Hou Yuduan, who was only at the fifth level of body refinement, to go out alone. She guessed that the one who had been watching her, Second Elder, must also be following behind.
But the problem was that Hou Yuduan had been so close to her this whole time; she could have taken him hostage and then threatened the Second Elder to let her go.
But whenever Tian Honglu was determined to act, as soon as she saw Hou Yuduan's face, her heart would soften, which is why she looks so troubled right now.
She could tell that Hou Yuduan wasn't like the skinny and scheming First Elder, nor like the murderous-looking Second Elder; he was truly a virtuous scholar who aspired to follow Confucianism with all his heart.
Moreover, from beginning to end, the other party was very good to her, which is why Tian Honglu had endured until now without making a move.
"Miss Tian, what are you thinking about?"
Tian Honglu was deep in thought when she turned her head to see Hou Yuduan, dressed in white, his face clear and composed, standing politely to the side and asking her a question, his face tinged with a hint of concern, and a sense of unreality surged in her heart.
It was really hard to believe that this refined, scholar-like Confucian Scholar was actually the biological younger brother of both Hou Lao Da and Hou Lao Er.
This… could it all be his disguise?
As this thought flashed through her mind, Tian Honglu's gaze towards Hou Yuduan suddenly became wary.
Noticing such an obvious change in expression, Hou Yuduan felt slightly aggrieved, yet considering that Miss Tian was brought back by his eldest brother against her will, he also felt very guilty, not daring to say much.
Suddenly, a dozen gusts of strong wind came from the flank of the mountain path.
The vigilance that had just arisen within Tian Honglu immediately kicked in. With a resolute expression, she quickly turned to dodge, but then she noticed Hou Yuduan still standing foolishly in the middle, and couldn't help but drag him over with a pull, feeling quite exasperated.
Bang...
Stones shattered, and trees flew across, revealing the spot where the two had just been standing now occupied by about a dozen men, all wearing green, wolf-patterned tunics, their auras varying from Three Levels of Body Opening to ten.
The one leading the group was older, with white hair, an aged face, and a sinister look in his eyes. The blood energy floating around his body was the hallmark of the Body-Opening Ten Layers Marrow-Cleansing Realm.
"Great Saint Hou is not being honest, eh? Going into the mountains with a delicate lady in broad daylight, trying to get a taste of the wild, are you?"
"Hahahaha..."
"Didn't they say he's a Great Saint who stays at home reading? Turns out, the Great Saint also wants a woman!"
"That's for sure, the taste of a woman, tsk tsk... everyone who has tried it says it's good."
The old man's teasing led to an instant roar of laughter from the more than ten men following him, each taking their turn to make fun of Hou Yuduan.
The reputation of Old Fifth of the Hou Family as a bookish scholar was no secret in Zhaoyang County.
If he were in the territory of The Righteous Path, he might have gained a reputation for being virtuous, but it just so happened that Zhaoyang County was a realm of the Demon Path.
Moreover, the three elder brothers and an elder sister above Hou Yuduan were not exactly upstanding individuals.
As a result, Hou Yuduan had become a frequent subject of jest among the people of Zhaoyang County, and the term Great Saint Hou was used mockingly.
"Tan Fei, do not slander me unjustly. Although I, Hou Yuduan, am no saint, even if my heart harbors desires, I could not commit the deeds you speak of. Miss Tian is… she is a distinguished guest of my brother, and today I merely wanted to take her to our Hou Family's mines for some business!"
Hou Yuduan rebuffed the statement, and immediately turned to Tian Honglu with a slight bow and a look full of apologies. "This elder is Tan Fei, the deputy leader of the Green Wolf Gang, harboring a grudge against my elder brother, hence his impudence. It has damaged Miss Tian's reputation, for which I am truly sorry."
Hearing Hou Yuduan's initial admission of his own lustful thoughts, Tian Honglu almost burst into laughter. Seeing Hou Yuduan actually apologizing to her in front of so many people, a strange emotion immediately welled up in her heart.
Compared to those martial world figures who like to resort to force at every turn, Hou Yuduan felt, indeed... very different to her.
In the current situation, Tian Honglu was naturally not worried. She knew that Hou Yucheng was still following the two of them, so even though she knew that Tan Fei was stronger than her, she was not afraid.
Just as she was about to speak, Tan Fei, seemingly having had enough of his jest, turned stern. His blood and energy surged as he leaped forward, pressing towards the two of them.
As a warrior of the Tenth Level of Body Opening, the gap in strength became apparent the moment he took action. Tian Honglu was about to cry for help when she found Hou Yuduan suddenly stepping in front of her.
"Miss Tian, let me protect you!"
Tian Honglu didn't know whether to feel touched or helpless. Just as Hou Yuduan was about to be struck down by Tan Fei's palm, that Second Elder Hou surprisingly did not appear. She couldn't help but pull Hou Yuduan away.
"You'd better take care of yourself first, idiot."
Hou Yuduan was yanked aside, feeling the powerful strength in Tian Honglu's hand, as well as her cultivation which far surpassed his own, and was instantly startled.
It turned out Miss Tian was so strong.
"You little wretch, meddling in others' affairs. I will kill you!"
Tan Fei's face was sinister, and his blood and energy suddenly intensified, his speed increasing a notch. At the same time, he started rallying the more than ten people by his side.
"I'll deal with this wench; you all go and capture Old Fifth Hou."
"Yes, sir!"
Finding Hou Yuduan in Nanling Mountain had not been easy, and considering the current animosity between the Green Wolf Gang and the Hou Clan, capturing this man could potentially threaten Great Saint Hou—a meritorious feat. How could he miss out on such an opportunity?
However, as Tan Fei's palm neared the sleeve of Tian Honglu's clothing, a flash of cold light suddenly shot into his pupil from the flank, and his face instantly tightened as he hastily withdrew to dodge to the side.
The cold light pierced straight through where he had been standing, showing no sign of lingering, and continued towards those who were trying to capture Hou Yuduan.
Shhh, shhh, shhh...
Even though it was broad daylight, that streak of cold light still gave everyone present a chill.
For every flash of the sword light, a member of the Green Wolf Gang had his throat slit and subsequently fell to the ground.
They didn't even get to see the person emitting the sword light clearly before they saw blood spurting about three feet high from their necks.
In just over a dozen breaths, the more than ten men brought by Tan Fei lost their lives.
Not one was left alive.
It was a man in a dark red athletic outfit, thin and lean.
About five and a half feet tall, almost the same height as Hou Yuxiao, his face was handsome but held an expression so menacing that it sent chills down one's spine.
His already menacing expression, paired with a pair of emotionless, cold eyes, naturally made one feel uneasy.
Blood beads were still oozing from the tip of the longsword in his hand, and his eyes were now fiercely fixed on Tan Fei.
"Fourth Elder Hou, you've gone too far!"
Seeing his men dead in a pool of blood, Tan Fei's anger surged uncontrollably.
"Gone too far... Heh heh... It seems you haven't been bullied enough by me?"
Hou Yujie's appearance and expression were not only cold, but his voice, slightly sharp and laced with scoffing laughter, made him seem even more sinister.
It wasn't just Tan Fei; even Tian Honglu, who he had saved, felt a shiver in her heart as she glanced at Hou Yuduan beside her, who suddenly seemed even more precious.
Among the entire Hou Family, he was the most normal, wasn't he?
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Fourth Elder Hou. Your Hou Clan won't be jumping around much longer."
Tan Fei ultimately lacked the courage to confront Hou Yujie. After seeing his skilled men from the gang dead on the ground, he gritted his teeth, threw a harsh threat, and fled in disgrace.
Hou Yujie watched his retreating figure, and although a chill rose in his pupils, he did not pursue but turned to look at Hou Yuduan and Tian Honglu.
Upon seeing Tian Honglu, a shade of You flickered in his eyes, especially when he saw her standing next to Hou Yuduan, and a subtle curve formed on his lips.
But this arc was somewhat unsettling...
"Old Fifth, how come you came over and didn't tell Fourth Brother?"
Hou Yuduan, who is usually talkative, was uncharacteristically silent in front of Hou Yujie.
He had been afraid of this fourth brother since childhood, and especially after that incident two years ago, when Fourth Brother's temperament took a dark turn, his fear intensified even more.
But today, he was on an errand for his eldest brother. Looking at the goods in the two carriages, Hou Yuduan still mustered the courage to speak.
"Big brother sent me to the mines to take care of some business; it's about those miners..."